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HUBBARD. FOLDING BOX.

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Patented 511119428, 1898.

9 jfrzkuz'azauak y all as hereinafter described, and particularly rrEDSTATES ARTIIUli-O. HUBBARD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. I

FOLDING Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters jlPatent No. 606,459, dated June28, 1898. Application December 21, 1897 Serial No. 662,787. (No model Toall whom it may concern: i Be it known that I, ARTHUR HUBBARD, ofMinneapolis,county of Hennepin,and State of Minnesota, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding boxes adapted for use in delivering orshipping articles of merchandise from place to place; and the object ofthe invention is to provide a box of light material, but of Very strongand durable construction, which may be folded up when empty into acompact form to occupy but little space, and therefore be speciallyadapted for use in delivering groceries from house to'house or intransporting fruit invention is to provide a simple and convenient meansfor connecting theends and sides of a folding box which will permit theuse of machines in setting up the same and enable box-manufacturers toutilize small pieces of lumber which ordinarily are used for fuel.

The invention consists ofa box made up of a series of narrow slats-@orboards and means for securing the same together and of cor-' nor-postscontainedwithin the body of the slats.

Theinvention fnrtherconsists in a box havin g side and end walls,platessecured thereto at the corners of the box, and lacing-wires passingvertically through said plates andthrough thewalls of the box.

' The invention consists, further, inprovidpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is aperspectiveview of a folding box embodying my invention. Fig. 2

' 1 is a similarview with the box partially folded.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the box when folded. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of one corner, showing the means for pivotally connecting the sidesand ends at two diagonal corners. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing themeans for corners. Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view showing amodified form of pivot-pin. Figs. 7 8, and 9 are modifications ofthehinge-plates. Fig. 10 shows another means for securing the bottomstops.

In the drawings, 2 2 and 3 3 represent, re-- spect-ively, the narrowstrips or pieces composing the sides and ends of the box. may be of-anysuitable material, such as bass wood or oak, and I prefer to constructeach side and end of several narrow pieces to'render-the box strongerand more durable at the cornerswhere thesides and ends are hingedtogether and at the same time enable the manufacturer to utilize wastelumber.

If preferred, the sides and ends may each be formed in a single pieceand the box when so made strengthened at the corners by arranging theplates, hereinafter described, in saw-slits provided at the corners atintervals betweenthe top and bottom of the box. I have found, however,that more waste material could be utilized and a more serviceable boxobtained by making the sides and ends of several narrow pieces or stripsfirmly secured together.

For joining the sides and ends at two diagonaljcornersof the box Iprovide fiat or straphinges comprising plates 4 4 and 5 5, arranged inrecesses in the edges of the sides 'and ends at the top and bottom ofthe box. I also preferto arrange these plates at intervals in thecorners between the pieces or strips comprising the sides and ends tostrengthen the corners and to prevent the Wear resulting from therubbing together of the parts composing the sides and ends when the box.is in use. These plates are held firmly in position by long staples orlacing-wires 6 6, which are inserted into holes provided in the platesat the top of the box, and after passing down through the sides and endsand the intermediate plates are bent back over the bottom plates andclenched, thereby locking the connecting the sides and ends at remainingf These 1 plates and the partscomposing the sides and ends firmlytogether. The plates are countersunk to receive the ends of the staplesor lacings 6 6 to add to the appearance of the corners and preventdamage to the boxes when piled one upon another. The other ends of theplates 4 4 are offset slightly to overlap the ends of the plates 5 5 andare provided with holes which register with correspond- IO ingly-shapedholes in said plates 5 5. 7 7 are pivot-pins or rods, preferably oflarger gage than the lacing-Wires and which pass through the holes insaid plates and down through the ends of the side pieces 2 2 and areheaded at I 5 each end, thereby locking the parts firmly in position andwith said plates, forming hinges whereon the sides and ends swing whenthe box is folded or unfolded. At the diagonally opposite corner of thebox I provide a similar construction.

In order that the box may be folded into a compact bundle and to providea space for the swinging bottom between the sides and ends when folded,it is necessary to employ a different construction at the remainingdiagonal corners. This construction consists in providing angle irons orplates 8 8, having lateral extensions 9 9 at one end, which overlap theends of the box. These plates are 0 also arranged at the top and bottomof the box and at intermediate points between the pieces or stripscomposing the sides and ends in recesses provided in the edges of saidparts, and the main portions 88 are locked firmly in position bylacing-wires 1O 10, which pass down through the sides of the box and theintermediate plates,and after passing through the bottom plates are bentover and clenched. The lateral extensions 9 are provided at their 0outer ends with holes or openings to receive pivot pins or rods 11 11,also of larger gage than the lacing-wires, and which pass down throughthe extensions provided on the intermediate and bottom plates throughthe ends of the box and are then headed at each end, thereby locking theend parts together and forminga pivot whereon these parts are swung whenthe box is folded or unfolded. The pivot-pins 11 11 are placed asufficient distance from the sides of the box to provide a space betweenthe sides when folded corresponding to the thickness of the swingingbottom for the purpose heretofore described. The diagonally oppositecorner is provided with similar plates secured together and to the sidesand ends in a similar manner.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slightly-modified form of pivot-pin, whichconsists in bending the ends over and clenching them instead of forminga head at each end.

Upon one of the side pieces 2 2 on the inside of the box, near thebottom thereof, I provide staples or eyelets 12, through which passsimilar staples or eyelets 13-, arranged in the edge of the bottom boardor plate 14. This board or plate swings on the hinges formed by thestaples 12 and 13, and when the box is unfolded drops to a horizontalposition until its ends strike the stops 15, provided 011 the end pieces3 3 at the bottom of the box. These stops 15 not only prevent furthermovement of the bottom 14, but aid in supporting the weight of thematerial that may be placed in the box. When it is desired to fold thebox, the bottom 14 is raised to a vertical position against the side towhich it is secured, and one end and side are folded down over thebottom until the sides and ends are parallel, as shown in Fig. 3. Ateach end of the box nearest the top I provide the handholes 16 to aid inhandling the box, and 'in the upper edge of the side and ends, near themiddle portion thereof, are the transverse slots 17 and 18, anddowel-pins 19 and 20 are provided upon the lower edge of the box. Thesedowel-pins dropping into the transverse slots when the boxes are piledone upon another will prevent them from sliding in either vdirection andspilling their contents.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I have shown a modification of the hinge-platesthat are provided at the corners of the box. The modification consistsin extending the edges of the plates down over the sides of the box,forming the flanges or lips 21-, which are turned in slightly to clampthe upper edge of the slats or strips composing the sides and ends ofthe box to prevent the same from splitting when the lacing-wires aredrawn through the strips or slats or when the box is subjected to asevere strain.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a slight modifica= tion of the manner ofsecuring the s'tops:15 to the inside of the box at its lower edge. Thischange consists in providing a flange 22 at the upper edge of each stopto enter a slot provided in the end strips and having openings throughwhich the lacing-wires pass to hold the stop securely in position.

It will be noted that the ends and sides of the box, as shown in thedrawings, are each composed of four strips of substantially the samewidth, the upper edge of the bottom slats representing a fraction of abushel, the upper edge of the second slats representing anotherfraction, and so on, so that the box may be used as a measure as well asa receptacle for use in delivering or marketing vegetables and articlesof merchandise.

The advantages of this form of hinge for connecting the sides and endsof a folding box lie in the fact that narrow comparatively thin materialmay be used which would not be suitable for manufacturing folding boxesmade in the ordinary manner on account of the danger of the woodssplitting at the corners and loosening the hinges, and thereby renderingthe box unfit for use. Furthermore, the use of the wire lacings enablesthe manufacturer to use machines in setting up the boxes, therebycheapening the cost of the production, and the use of long pivot-pins,which extend entirely through the sides and ends of the box, greatlyincrease the strength and efficiency of the hinges, besides adding IIOmaterially to the strength and durability of i the corners of the box.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 9 1. The combinatiomin a folding box,with

, non-overlappin g side and end walls, of hingeplates secured to theupper and lower edges of said walls and overlapping the same, and

said strips or slats, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a folding box, with the sides and ends, eachcomposed of a series of strips or slats placed one above the other, ofplates arranged between said strips and upon the upper edges of the topstrips and the lower edges of the bottom strips, and overlapping saidsides and ends, lacing-wires passing vertically through said plates andthrough said strips or slats, and pivot pins or rods also passingthrough said plates and said strips,

substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a folding box, with the sides and end walls, ofhinges secured to the upper and lower edges of one of said abuttingwalls at each corner of the box, said hinges composed of horizontalplates overlapping the abutting walls, and pivot pins or rods passingthrough the free ends of said plates, and vertically through the walls,for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, in a folding box, with the sides and ends, of platesor straps arranged at intervals in the sides and ends at the cor-.

ners of said box, and at the top and bottom thereof, means for securingsaid plates in the corners of the box, said plates overlapping theabutting sides and ends, and pivot-pins passing through said plates andvertically through the walls at the corners of the box, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a folding box, the combination, with the sides and ends, of plates4, 4, and 5, 5, arranged at two diagonal corners of the box, said plateshaving overlapping ends, and lacin g-wires passing through said platesand vertically through said sides or ends, and pivot pins or rodspassing through the overlapping ends of said plates, and verticallythrough the walls at the corners of the box, and angle irons or platespivotally arranged at the other diagonal corners, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a folding box, the combination, with the sides and ends, of plates8, 8, having lateral extensions 9,,9, arranged at two diagonal cornersof the box, lacing-wires whereby said plates are secured to the sides ofthe box,

pivot .pins or rods passing through said extensions 9, 9, and throughthe ends of the box and Whereon the sides and ends are swung whentheboxis folded or unfolded,'substantially as described. 1 8; i Thecombination, in'a folding box, with the sides and ends, of plates orstraps secured to said sides and ends at the corners of the box, pins orrods passing through said plates and vertically through said sides andends and forming pivots whereon the same are swung when the box isfolded or unfolded, slots provided in the upper edges of said sides andends, and dowel-pins in the lower edges of the same, for the purpose setforth. 9. In a folding box, the combination, with the sides and ends, ofthe angle irons or plates the upper edges of the top strips and thelower edges of the bottom strips and overlapping said sides and ends,lacing-wires passing vertically through said plates and through saidstrips or slats, and the lips or flan gesprovided upon the edges of saidplates, for the purpose set forth.

.11. The combination, in a box, of a series of slats or narrow boardsmaking up each side and end thereof, hinge-plates overlapping theabutting side and end walls, and metallic fastenings included'by thethickness of .said slats or boards and passing through the same and saidplates to secure them together, substantially as described.

12. The combination, in a box, of a series of slats or narrow boardsmaking up each side and end thereof, and metallic fastenings included bythe thickness of said slats or boards and between thesame for securingthem together, and means having fastenings within the body of the slatsor boards and pivoting the sides and ends, substantially as described.

1 13. The combination, in a box, with nonoverlapping side and end Walls,of hingeplates arranged at the corners of the box and included in thethickness of said walls and overlapping their abutting ends, and metallie fasten in gs passing through said plates and vertically through saidwalls, substantially as described. 7

14:. In a folding box, the combination, with side and end walls and aswinging bottom, of plates included between theinner and outer surfacesof said walls and overlapping their In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset abutting ends, pivot-pins passing through my hand this 15th day ofDecember, A. D. d 4

said plates'and Vertically through said walls 1897.

at ornear the apexes of two diagonal corners ARTHUR O. HUBBARD.

and in the remaining diagonal corners at a In presence ofdistance fromtheir apexes correspondingsub- RICHARD PAUL, stantiaily to the thicknessof said bottom. A. F. HOLMES.

